Look chain



(No Model.) I 2 ShetS-V-Sh-eet 1.

P. S. KINGSLAND. LOCK CHAIN.

No. 553,650. Patente/(cJanl Z8,` 1896.

infant/aya,

(No'Model.) .2 sheets-sheet 2.

12s. KINGSLAND.

vLUCK CHAIN.

10.553,65'0. PatentedJan. 28, 1896.

fj om.

ANDRFN EGRAHMPHUTO LITRO-WASHINGIUNJC.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP S. KINGSLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KINGS- LAND FLUE SCRAPER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCK-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,650, dated January 28, 1896. .Application filed July 27,1895- Serial No. 557,337. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP S. KINGsLAND,

va citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofA Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lock-Chains, (Case No. 7,) of which the followingis a full, clear, conoise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a lock-chain, my object being to provide a chain which may be rendered either iiexible or rigid, as may be desired. It is often desirable to employ a chain which may be wound about a drum or otherwise folded into small space, while at the same time being capable of being rendered rigid, whereby a longitudinal thrust may be imparted thereby. -In Letters Patent No. 514,195, granted February 6, 1894, to Christian C. Hill'and myself, is described a boiler- Hue-cleaning mechanism in which the fluescraper is thrust into the flue and withdrawn therefrom by means of a chain composed of balls, the balls being of such a size that the chain cannot buckle within the lue when a longitudinal thrust is imposed thereon in forcing the scraper into the ilue. The lock-chain of my invention herein is particularly applicable to such a machine wherein it is desired to impart a longitudinal thrust to force the scraper into the Hue, while at the same time the chain is iieXible, whereby it may be Wound upon a drum or otherwise bent as it is withdrawn from the nue.

Other applications of my invention Will suggest themselves, and I merely mention the above to indicate the utility of the device.

In accordance with my invention the chain is formed in links, the links carrying coacting projections and recesses adapted to engage when the links are thrust together to prevent the relative iieXion of the links, thus rendering the chain as awhole rigid, a certain freedom' of longitudinal movement being provided between the linkswhereby the same may be unlocked and the relative flexion of the links permitted. By this construction when the links are pressed together,l as when a thrust is imposed thereon, the chain is ren- 5o dered rigid, while when the links are pulled apart, as when a longitudinal pull is exerted thereon, the chain is rendered flexible.

I will describe my invention in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, 5 5 in which-- Figure l is a view of two links of a chain embodying my invention, the links being thrust together, whereby they are\ locked against rotation. Fig. 2 is a similar view 6o showing one of the links rotated relatively to the other. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification, showing the links locked together. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view showing the links relatively 65 rotated. Fig. 6 is a view of a further modication, the links being locked together. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the links relatively rotated. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the locking-pin employed in the construction 7o illustrated in Figs. Gand 7. Fig.- 9 is a view of a chain constructed in accordance with my invention, the links being locked together. Fig. l0 is a view showing the chain in a flexed position.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the link a is provided with a longitudinal slot a', within which a pin b, carried upon the link b, is 8o adapted to move. The link a carries a projecting end d2 adapted when the links are thrust together to enter a recess provided in the link b. When in this lposition the two -links are locked against relative rotation.

When the links are drawn apart, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the links may be relatively flexed, the chain being thus rendered flexible.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is illustrateda modica- 9c tion in which a slot is provided in the link a comprising a round portion d3 and a longitudinally-extended portion a4, while upon the link b, which is preferably formed from two plates, is carried a tlat pin b2, adapted when the links are thrust together to enter the por-Y tion a4 of the slot and thus lock the links to-v gether. When the links are pulled apart, the

pin b2 rests Within the round portion a3 of the slot and the links may be relatively flexed, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a further modiication in which the links may be cut from a single strip or band of metal without loss of material, the links being stamped out so that the projection b3 of link b corresponds to the recess a5 of link a. Then the links are thrust together their relative iexion is prevented. The link b carries a slot b", and upon the link ay is mounted a locking-pin a, the end a7 of which is adapted to enter the recess b5 when the links are thrust together. Then `the links are pulled apart the end a7 is Withdrawn from the recess b5 and the projection from the recess ai and the links are free to be moved into an angular position, as illustrated in Fig. 7. It will be observed that in this latter modifica-tion the links are locked together by a pair of coacting projections and recesses upon cach side of the axis of rotation.

IIavin g described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a lock chain, the combination Witha plurality of links pivotally connected at the ends to permit the flexion of the chain, of

locking means for maintaining the links locked in alignment when thelinks are thrust together; substantially as described.

2. In a lock chain, the combina-tion with a plurality of links pivotally connected at the ends to permit the flexion of the chain, of projections or tongues provided upon said links at one end, and recesses provided upon the links at the opposite ends to receive said tongues When the links are in alignment and are thrust together; substantially as dcscribed.

3. In a lock chain, the combination with a plurality of links pivoted together to permit flexion of the chain and longitudinal movenient of the links relatively, of the projections b* provided upon said links at one end, and the recesses a5 provided therein at the opposite ends, the locking pins a, slots D" Within. which said lookin pins are adapted to move, and recesses b5 communicating' with slots b4; substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 23d day of July, A. D. 1895.

PHILIP KINGSLANI). lVitnesses:

CHARLES A. BROWN, XV; CLYDE JoNEs. 

